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'* / left him holding the picture with one hand, and 

waving me good-night with the other, a gentle smile upon 
his venerable face." [Page 96.] 



EVENINGS WITH 
UNCLE 'BIJAH 

OR 

Christian Fellowship 

BY THE 

Author of ' 'Herbert Brown, 
4 'Dick Haley/* Etc. 



) M 



Under the Convenient Title of the 
Rev. Richard Grote, A. M., D. D. 



The Christian Publishing Association 
DAYTON, OHIO 



.VJ5 



COPYRIGHTED BY 

0. B. WHITAKER, 

GLENCOE, FLORIDA 

1915 



JUL -9 1915 
>CI,A406619 

7t^ f 



To My Former Students, 
Especially Theological, and 
to All Lovers of a True and 
Genuine CHRISTIAN FEL- 
LOWSHIP. 



PREFACE 

"Would to God that all the party 
names and unscriptural phrases and 
forms were forgotten, and that we 
might all agree to sit down together, 
as humble, loving disciples at the feet 
of our common Master, to hear His 
Word, to imbibe His Spirit, to trans- 
cribe His life into our own. And who 
are we that we should withstand 
God? Particularly by laying down 
rules of Christian communion which 
exclude any whom he has admitted 
into the Church of the First-born 
from worshiping God together. 0, 
that all church governors would con- 
sider how bold a usurpation this is on 
the supreme Lord of the Church! 0, 
that the sin of thus withstanding God 
may be laid to the charge of those 
who, perhaps with a good intention, 
but in an over-fondness for their own 
forms, have done it, and are doing it 
continually." — John Wesley. 



Evenings With Uncle 'Bijah 
or Christian Fellowship 



INTRODUCTION 

ffTTNCLE 'BIJAH, why do you not 
*J join the church ?" I asked the 
question of the best known citizen of 
our town, an old man of education 
and culture, strict integrity and un- 
doubted Christian life. He was a con- 
servative and successful business 
man, had served as a member of his 
state legislature, and was the princi- 
pal organizer and president of the 
National Bank of the town. 

"Don't suit me," was his laconic 
and unsatisfactory reply. 

5 



EVENINGS WITH UNCLE 'BIJAH 

"Don't suit you?" I repeated. 
"What doesn't suit you?" 

"The churches." 

"But I didn't ask you to join the 
churches, Uncle 'Bijah," I said, smil- 
ing. 

"0 no, I know," he replied, con- 
clusively. 

But I had prepared for this. I had 
become thoroughly acquainted with 
the interesting old man before me, I 
might almost say familiar with him. 
He was a frequent attendant at my 
services, I had often met and talkt 
with him on the streets or in the park, 
and twice had had the pleasure of 
walking with him over his farm and 
through his well-kept orchard. Be- 
fore broaching this subject to him I 
had studied the matter over carefully, 
and had made up my mind that I 



INTRODUCTION 

would not let the matter rest (nor 
him either) until I had fathomed the 
depth of his mind. And so, all un- 
daunted, I said, as courteously as I 
could : 

"Well, what do you know, Uncle 
'Bijah?" 

There was a slight twinkle in his 
clear old eyes, and I thought I detect- 
ed also the faintest glint of sharpness, 
as he replied : 

"I reckon you were inviting me to 
join your church ?" 

"Certainly. You do not think I 
would be inviting you to join some 
other, do you?" 

"No," he replied, with an intona- 
tion and modulation that fairly made 
me start, I glanced quickly and 
keenly at his face, but it was calm as 
a summer evening. I was not. I was 



EVENINGS WITH UNCLE 'BIJAH 

conscious that I presented much the 
appearance of a dog baying a porcu- 
pine, and getting a quill in his nose 
every time he got too close. — Yet, not 
a porcupine; for the dear old man 
was anything than that. 

"Uncle 'Bijah," I said, attempting 
to assume all the dignity and calm- 
ness possible, "was not your wife a 
member of the church?" 

"Yes." 

"May I ask what church?" 

"Methodist." 

"Your parents?" I asked, attempt- 
ing to imitate his briefness. 

"Baptists." 

"Your children?" 

He thought a moment, then quiet- 
ly replied: 

8 



INTRODUCTION 

"Two are Methodists, one a Pres- 
byterian, and the other a Congrega- 
tionalism" 

"That is all your family?" 

"My closest relations," he replied, 
looking quietly at me; and then, ap- 
parently reading my thought, he add- 
ed : "so far as I know all my ancestors 
were church members." 

"Andyou?"Iaskt. 

"And I," he quietly replied. 

I confess I was nettled. All that 
he had told me I already knew. In 
asking those questions I had simply 
"backed off" to gain momentum ; and 
here I was — stuck fast just where I 
had started. Suddenly the situation 
flashed upon me: I was questioning 
an absolutely honorable man in a dis- 
honorable manner — as tho he were a 
criminal, and I an attorney trying to 

9 



EVENINGS WITH UNCLE 'BIJAH 

uncover his guilt — as tho he were a 
culprit, and I a magistrate trying to 
force a confession. I was also con- 
scious that he had come pretty near 
turning the table on me. Something 
akin to a feeling of guilt overwhelm- 
ed me, and I felt a strong inclination 
to ask his forgiveness. I did not do 
that, but I did turn to him frankly, 
with more, I suspect, in my face than 
in my words, and said : 

"Uncle 'Bijah, I want to apologize 
for my manner of approaching you 
on this subject." 

The look on his face I shall never 
forget. I recall it with perfect vivid- 
ness as I write to-day, tho many 
snows have fallen upon his sacred 
mound since then. It was a look of 
mingled kindness, amusement, sym- 
pathy, and what more I cannot tell. 

10 



INTRODUCTION 

"No ground for that," he said 
quietly. "The fault was mine. It is 
a subject I have never much discussed 
— in fact, have always rather avoid- 
ed." 

"Believing as you do in Christian- 
ity," I said, "and standing as you do 
aloof from the church, I cannot but 
feel that you possess some ideas that 
would be extremely interesting and 
profitable to me if you would but give 
me your full and frank views of this 
subject." 

"I fear you are very much mistak- 
en in those regards," he replied, and 
then after a moment's thoughtful 
silence, he added, "however, the man- 
ner in which you make your request 
compels me to be equally frank and 
open with you. I shall willingly give 
you any information I may possess, 

11 



EVENINGS WITH UNCLE 'BIJAH 

tho it must of necessity be very mea- 
gre. May be you would be willing to 
step in awhile this evening ?" 

"I would/' I replied, heartily, "and 
I thank you for the courtesy. Good 
day, Uncle 'Bijah." 

I confess I was in somewhat of a 
flutter. I'm ashamed to confess it, 
but I was. I had some confidence — in 
fact, much confidence — in my ability 
in my profession, the ministry, and I 
had some reason for it, for I had a 
thorough education, was an ex-college 
president, and was regarded by my 
associates in the profession as some- 
what able in theology. I was at this 
time pastor of the Oaklawn Church, 
the leading church of the city. And 
here, on my own initiative, I had en- 
gaged this gentle old man in conver- 
sation on my own supposedly well- 

12 



INTRODUCTION 

known ground, and had been worsted, 
so much so that I had felt it my duty 
to apologize; and that, too, without 
the slightest apparent effort on his 
part. "But/' I said to myself, as I 
returned to the parsonage, "it was 
not a discussion of theology ; in truth, 
it was scarce a reference to theology. 
It was simply a case of bad judgment 
and poor tactics ; but the apology was 
heartily accepted, and the offense as 
heartily forgiven. Why should I let 
a little thing like that 'upset me'?" 
And thus I dismissed the annoying 
little incident, and immediately found 
my mind occupied with conjecturing 
what the evening might bring forth. 
What explanation could this practi- 
cal, cultured, courteous old man, who 
believes in and practices Christianity, 
who is a regular attendant at divine 

13 



EVENINGS WITH UNCLE 'BIJAH 

worship, offer for not uniting with 
the church whose worship he attends 
and participates in? What answer 
could he give to my question that 
would be consistent with his position ? 
Would not the inconsistencies be so 
glaring that they would be their own 
refutation as soon as stated? We 
must wait and see. 



14 



FIRST EVENING 



T^HE clock was striking eight 
■*■ when I entered the hall and 
was welcomed into the old-fashioned 
resting-room of Uncle 'Bijah. It was 
not a library, it was not a study, it 
was not a "den;" it was a combina- 
tion of all of them, or, rather, it com- 
bined some of the features of each of 
them. I recall an old-fashioned fire- 
place, in which the fire blazed cheer- 
fully, three or four chairs of as many 
different patterns, a strong leather- 
covered couch, bearing marks of some 
age, and two large book-cases filled 
with books. 

"Will you lay your coat and hat on 
15 



EVENINGS WITH UNCLE 'BIJAH 

the lounge there, Mr. Grote, and have 
that chair?" said my host. 

"Thank you," I replied, complying. 

"A little indication of storm?" 

"I'm afraid there is," I replied. 

There was a moment's silence. 

"Well," said he, a kindly smile 
lighting his face, "you came to cate- 
chize me ; proceed." 

"No, Uncle 'Bijah," I replied, 
"please do not put it that way; tho I 
concede that my impertinence this 
afternoon warrants your criticism. I 
merely wish to read your mind for 
my own meditation and improve- 
ment." 

"I suspect you could find more 
profitable reading, tho possibly not 
more amusing, eh ? Well, I guess you 
want me to answer your question: 
"Why don't I join the church?" 

36 



FIRST EVENING 

"If you will be so kind." 

"May be I can make myself clearer 
if I tell you first why I don't join your 
church." 

"I should as soon hear that first," I 
said, smiling. 

"My parents were both Friends, or 
'Quakers'." 

The inflection of his voice indicated 
that his answer was complete; but I 
felt certain that it was only his in- 
troductory statement, and that he 
would presently proceed, and I there- 
fore waited. But he was silent. 

"Do you mean that is your reason 
for not joining the Methodist 
Church?" I asked, incredulously. 

"One," he replied in a tone of un- 
wavering confidence. 

"I fail to see the connection," I 
said. 

17 



EVENINGS WITH UNCLE 'BIJAH 

"I had the utmost faith in their 
lives, and especially their religion," 
he replied, his eyes fixed meditatively 
upon the fire. 

"I feel sure that had I known them 
I should feel the same toward them," 
I said; "but pray tell me what does 
that have to do with this matter— 
unless," I added, a new thought flash- 
ing into my mind, "you mean that you 
hold the Quaker faith?" 

"And if I do?" asked my compan- 
ion, turning an interested glance to- 
ward me. 

"Then I should not have asked you 
to unite with our church." 

"Why?" 

"I would not intentionally prose- 
lyte. I believe every one should place 
his membership where his faith is. 

18 



FIRST EVENING 

Have you ever been a member of the 
Quaker Church ?" 

"No." 

"Then you must have also a reason 
for not joining that church." 

"I have — a better one." 

"May I ask what it is?" 

"Its peculiar doctrines are contrary 
to my faith." 

I waited, hoping he would proceed, 
but he did not. Determined to get 
what I was so anxious to possess, I 
asked bluntly: 

"How about the doctrines of the 
Methodist Church?" 

"I think I have no serious objec- 
tions to them." 

"Then what prevents your uniting 
with our church?" 

"My faith in my parents' religion, 
for one thing." 

19 



EVENINGS WITH UNCLE 'BIJAH 

"But how does that prevent ?" 

"Would they be admitted?" 

"Probably not, with their peculiar 
views. But why should they want 
to be?" 

"They would not." 

"Well, you would not expect us to 
admit them when they did not wish 
to be admitted, would you?" 

"0 no, certainly not." 

"Then I confess I fail to see your 
reason," I said, somewhat confused 
and not a little annoyed at the course 
our dialog had taken. 

"The reason they would not ask for 
admission," he replied with the same 
calm confidence that had character- 
ized his every step in our conversa- 
tion. On the other hand I was much 
like a hound trying to follow a far 
leaping, oft turning quarry, now and 

20 



FIRST EVENING 

again missing the trail, and as oft re- 
turning to pick up the scent; — nor 
was hound ever more determined to 
follow his quarry. 

"What's that?" I askt, endeavoring 
to pick up the lost trail. 

"Your requirements contradict 
their faith." 

"Would you have us exchange our 
doctrines for the doctrines of the 
Quakers?" 

"0 no." 

"What then?" 

"Mr. Grote," said the old man, 
turning directly facing me, "could you 
conscientiously unite with the Bap- 
tist Church?" 

"No; my views of the Bible would 
prevent my doing that." 

"Do you have any members that 
could not for the same reason?" 

21 



EVENINGS WITH UNCLE 'BIJAH 

"I have no doubt I have." 

"Are they true Christians ?" 

"I think so." 

"Among your best?" 

"Probably so." 

"As good as those that are in the 
Baptist Church?" 

"I think so." 

"Has it occurred to you that there 
might be something wrong about 
those particular doctrines by which 
such are shut out?" 

"Well, yes; I confess that it has." 

"Does it seem reasonable to you 
that if that be true, there may also be 
something wrong about the particu- 
lar doctrines by which your church 
shuts out my parents and others 
equally true and good?" 

"But why should they ask for ad- 
mission to churches with which they 

22 



FIRST EVENING 

do not agree ? There are other denom- 
inations whose peculiar doctrines 
they believe; why do they not go 
there ?" 

"What is the purpose of the condi- 
tions of admission of the various 
churches?" 

"I should rather hear you answer 
that, Uncle 'Bijah, for I am sure your 
answer would be of deep interest to 
me." 

"What's a fanning-mill for?" 

"I'm not sure that I know very 
much about that; but I have seen 
them at work. I think they are to 
clean the various grains for the farm- 
er." 

"Exactly; they're composed of a 
fan that blows the chaff and trash 
out, and a sieve that sifts the sand 
and dirt through, and thus leaves the 

23 



EVENINGS WITH UNCLE 'BIJAH 

pure grain. And that's my idea of 
the conditions of admission to the 
church. I wouldn't give much for a 
f anning-mill that blew over or sifted 
through more good wheat than it re- 
tained. Would you?" 

"Have you a remedy to offer?" I 
asked, purposely avoiding a direct an- 
swer to his question. 

"I know how to stop that in a fan- 
ning-mill," he replied, smiling, "and 
if you care to spend another evening 
with me I will think the matter over 
a little, and see if I can apply my 
knowledge of farming to the church 
—that is, if you would like to see how 
a barn door would look on a church." 

The clock indicated half past nine, 
and I now remembered having heard 
Uncle 'Bijah remark that that was 
his regular time for retiring. 

24 



FIRST EVENING 

"To-morrow night ?" I asked, tak- 
ing my hat and coat. 

"If you will be so good," he replied, 
most graciously. 

I walked two blocks past my own 
residence, and turned and retraced 
my steps; and half an hour later, 
when my wife entered my study and 
spoke my name, I started with a feel- 
ing that she was calling me to break- 
fast — no; it was supper— no; it was 
time for the church service — then her 
amused, merry laugh brought me to 
a realization of my surroundings, as 
she said : 

"Dear, it's bedtime." 



25 



SECOND EVENING 



alUELL, Uncle 'Bijah," I said 
▼ ▼ as I seated myself before 
the roaring hickory fire the following 
evening, "it's the fanning-mill this 
evening. ,, 

"I remember," said my companion, 
smiling, but thoughtful. "The mat- 
ter has been a great deal on my mind 
to-day, and I confess I find it a more 
difficult and serious subject than I 
had anticipated. I have reached one 
conclusion, however, that I feel sure 
of, and that is this: It is more im- 
portant that the church admit all the 
fit than that it shut out all the unfit." 
He paused a moment as if thinking 
the proposition over again, and then 

27 



EVENINGS WITH UNCLE 'BIJAH 

glancing keenly toward me asked: 
"What do you think of that?" 

"I had never thought of it in just 
that way," I replied, "and should like 
to hear your reasons." 

"Here they are," he said, carefully 
scanning a few neat notes on a sheet 
of paper before him: "There's the 
parable of the net cast into the sea 
that gathered of every kind, and Je- 
sus said it was like the kingdom of 
heaven; there's the parable of the 
tares in the wheat that the servants 
were told to let alone lest they should 
throw out the wheat in trying to 
throw out the tares; there's Judas 
among the apostles, and Ananias and 
Sapphira in the church in the time of 
the apostles; and there are Paul's 
letters to the churches, especially to 
the Corinthians, showing clearly that 

28 



SECOND EVENING 

many evil persons were in the church- 
es in his time — in short, there seems 
to be abundant evidence that evil per- 
sons got into the churches even in the 
time of Christ and the apostles; but 
I do not find a single instance where 
a Christian was ever refused admis- 
sion. Do you?" 

I was listening intently, and his 
abrupt interrogation startled me. 

"No," I half drawled, "I think not; 
but what do you conclude from all 
that?" 

'That the churches should do the 
same to-day." 

"Do you mean that they should cast 
aside all the standards of orthodoxy, 
and admit every one regardless of 
his faith?" 

"Probably that would be the more 
theological way of putting it," re- 

29 



EVENINGS WITH UNCLE 'BIJAH 

turned my companion, "but in my 
plainer way of thinking, faith in 
Christ, not in creed, should be the 
test/' He paused for a moment, and 
then, apparently recalling my ques- 
tion, he added: "You do not get my 
thought, Mr. Grote. I would not cast 
away the theological statements, and 
standards of faith, nor would I have 
them lost to the world. They are no 
doubt of great value. My objection is 
not to them, but to the use to which 
they have been appropriated — I think 
they have been misappropriated/ ' 

"I think I fail entirely to get your 
view-point," I said. 

"A good thing may be appropriated 
to a bad use, may it not?" he asked. 

"Certainly," I replied. 

"The best thing might be appropri- 
ated to the worst use, might it not?" 

30 



SECOND EVENING 

"Possibly so," I answered. 

He looked at me a moment thought- 
fully; then the faintest smile played 
on his features, and he said : 

"May be you noticed last week in 
the daily paper an account of a rather 
amusing police case in Kansas City. 
It appeared that the defendant was 
a large, powerful Irish woman, and 
the plaintiff (who was her husband) 
was a small irresolute looking chap, 
and had his face patched up with 
plasters and bandages. It developed 
that in a domestic altercation the de- 
fendant had snatched from over the 
door of their home a very beautiful 
motto, 'God Bless Our Home/ framed 
with a glass front, and smashed it 
over the head of the plaintiff. Did 
you notice the item in the paper?" he 
asked. 

31 



EVENINGS WITH UNCLE 'BIJAH 

"I did," I replied, "I read it aloud 
in my home for the amusement of my 
family." 

"Do you remember the decree of 
the court?" he asked. 

"I cannot recall that," I replied, af= 
ter a moment's thought. 

"Was it that all the mottoes, 'God 
Bless Our Home/ should be removed 
from the homes of Kansas City?" 

"No; it wasn't that," I said, smil- 
ing. 

"Are you sure?" 

"Quite sure," I replied. 

"Why are you so sure, when you 
say you do not remember what the 
verdict was?" 

"I could not but remember had it 
been so unusual and foolish a decree 
as that," I replied, half impatient at 
his cross-questioning. 

32 



SECOND EVENING 

"You believe in mottoes in the 
home?" he asked. 

"I certainly believe in good mottoes 
in the home," I answered, "and I 
know of no more beautiful and useful 
motto than that one." 

"For what purpose should they be 
kept in the home?" 

"Why, for the members of the 
home to read and meditate upon," I 
answered. 

"And not to smash over each 
others' heads?" 

"No," I replied. 

"In that Kansas City case, was the 
fault in the motto or in the use to 
which it was put?" 

"Why, of course, Uncle 'Bijah, it 
was not in the motto, but in the bad 
use to which it was put," I replied. 

33 



EVENINGS WITH UNCLE 'BIJAH 

"In other words, it was a misappro- 
priation," said the old man ; "and that 
is exactly my idea of these creeds, 
church standards, or theological 
statements. I would not have them 
destroyed or lost to the world. But 
I think they should be preserved for 
study, for comparison, for meditation 
— and not for some members of the 
household to smash over the heads of 
others (as has too often been done). 
Mr. Grote, when the churches or you 
preachers use these theological state- 
ments to shut out from the churches 
men and women as true Christians 
as those you admit, it seems to me 
that is a misappropriation." 

"But I cannot concede your assump- 
tion that the theological statements 
shut out as true Christians as they 
admit," I said, smiling. 

34 



SECOND EVENING 

My companion looked at me sharp- 
ly for a moment. There was an ele- 
ment of wonder, if not, indeed, 
amazement, in the look. And then 
he asked, in the most friendly tone: 

"Which church in this town has the 
largest percentage of Christians in 
it?" 

"I cannot answer that," I replied. 

"Will you tell me which one you 
think has the largest percentage?" 

"To be perfectly frank in the mat- 
ter," I answered, "I should be very 
much in doubt, and should not want 
to venture even a guess." 

"If the theological standards of 
each of the churches were strictly ap- 
plied they would shut out all or a part 
of the members of each of the other 
churches, would they not?" 

35 



EVENINGS WITH UNCLE 'BIJAH 

"Yes," I said, thoughtfully, "that, 
no doubt, would be true." 

"Which would contain the larger 
percentage of Christians, those ad- 
mitted or those rejected by such 
tests?" 

The question was at first a little 
puzzling to me; not that I had not 
given the matter previous thought, 
for I had ; but this was to me a novel 
way of putting it. Nor was I blind 
to the logical conclusion toward 
which he was leading me. I was re- 
solved, however, to be as frank as was 
my companion, and I answered : 

"I do not know; probably about 
egually divided." 

"For instance," continued my 
friend, "the theological statement of 
the Disciples or Baptists would ex- 

36 



SECOND EVENING 

elude a large part of your own mem- 
bers, would it not?" 

"Yes." 

"Do you think the religion of those 
excluded would be inferior to that of 
those admitted by such a test?" 

"I do not," I replied. 

"Or the theological statement of 
your own church would exclude near- 
ly or quite all of the members of 
the Quaker Church?" 

"It probably would," I answered. 

"Do you believe that the Quaker 
Church has a lower percentage of 
Christians in it than have the other 
churches?" 

"No, Uncle 'Bijah," I answered, 
"justice compels me to confess that I 
do not." 

"Then," quietly continued my com- 
panion, "it seems to me that these 

37 



EVENINGS WITH UNCLE 'BIJAH 

theological standards neither make 
nor unmake Christians, or, in other 
words, are not tests of Christianity 
at all. Is it not then a misappropria- 
tion of them to make them tests of ad- 
mission to the church ?" 

"But," I said, "suppose they were 
no longer made the theological stand- 
ards for the churches ; would not the 
emphasis upon the great truths con- 
tained in them be lost?" 

"I believe the truths would fare all 
the better, and the errors the worse," 
he replied. 

"I do not understand," I said. 

"I was passing through Salina, 
Kansas, a few years ago on a busi- 
ness trip," said my companion, with 
an ease and apparent indifference 
that at first suggested to me that he 
had dismissed the whole matter in 

38 



SECOND EVENING 

discussion and was relating to me a 
little disconnected story, "and spent 
the time while waiting for my train 
walking through the city. As I passed 
a cottage I noticed a very beautiful 
little girl playing in the yard. Her 
bright eyes, black hair, and rosy 
cheeks particularly attracted my at- 
tention. I had gone but a few paces 
when a little boy tripped past me, and 
an instant later I heard his voice ring 
out in a clear authoritative tone that 
caused me to stop and turn about. 

" 'Say, Mary, is Charley in there?' 
he demanded. 

"The little maiden's eyes flashed re- 
sentment, and her chin was lifted in a 
manner that seemed to ask, 'What 
right have you to speak to me that 
way?' but she only answered curtly: 

"Yes." 

39 



EVENINGS WITH UNCLE 'BIJAH 

" 'You run in there, and tell him 
to come out here — HURRY!' 

"I shall never forget the perfect 
picture the little girl presented, 
standing there erect, eyes sparkling 
with independence, cheeks flushed, 
lips firm, her finger raised in defi- 
ance, as she said very slowly and em- 
phatically : 

" 'I — don't — have — to. You ain't 
my papa nor my mamma/ 

"I could not but admire her spirit. 
I have not a doubt that had she been 
asked in a courteous manner for the 
favor it would have been cheerfully 
granted. Whether right or wrong, 
it's the American spirit of independ- 
ence — the spirit that demands the 
recognition of equality. But it seems 
to me also the Christian spirit, for 
was it not Christ that said, 'One is 

40 



SECOND EVENING 

your Master, even Christ, and all ye 
are brethren?' It's not more what is 
offered than the manner in which it 
is offered that determines its accept- 
ance or rejection. The assumption of 
superiority in dictating another's re- 
ligious faith seems to me un-Ameri- 
can and un-Scriptural. While with a 
people that from their childhood have 
been taught that they are subordinate 
to their rulers, that their wills, pleas- 
ure, convenience, and even their lives 
are subject to the will or the wish of 
a king, a czar, or a tyrant, this as- 
sumption of superiority in dictating 
their religious faith, or prescribing 
the conditions under which they may 
be admitted to church membership, 
even though those requirements are 
admittedly not essential to accept- 
ance with Christ, may be tolerable: 

41 



EVENINGS WITH UNCLE 'BIJAH 

but with a people taught from their 
youth that all men are born equal, a 
people that recognize no human au- 
thority save that constituted by their 
own act, that know no rulers save 
those made by their own franchise, 
and in whose country there is no posi- 
tion of authority or honor to which 
their own children may not become 
eligible, such an attitude is offensive, 
and defeats its own purpose.' ' 

I was drinking in the eloquence and 
apt illustrations of the speaker, quite 
unconscious of all else; and when he 
stopped I found myself leaning for- 
ward, my elbow resting on the table, 
my chin in my hand, and my mind 
startlingly in agreement with his ar- 
gument. After a little pause, he add- 
ed quietly, but with convincing clear- 
ness: 

42 



SECOND EVENING 

"I may be mistaken ; but it seems to 
me that this un-American and un- 
christian attitude of the churches is 
responsible for much, if not for most, 
of the friction among denominations, 
and keeps many out of the churches." 

"But have you considered what 
endless troubles and disturbances and 
divisions there would necessarily be 
in a church that would admit all these 
people with their various and often 
contradictory faith, Uncle 'Bijah?" I 
asked. 

"What does your church hold as to 
mode of baptism?" he asked, appar- 
ently ignoring my question. 

"The Methodist Church is very 
broad on that subject, as you know, 
granting entire liberty of choice to 
its members," I replied. 

43 



EVENINGS WITH UNCLE 'BIJAH 

"Have there ever been any divi- 
sions in the Methodist Church ?" 

"Yes, a good many." 

"Has it ever divided upon the sub- 
ject of baptism?" 

"I think not," I answered. 

"Did you ever know of that sub- 
ject's causing troubles, disturbances, 
or divisions in your churches?" 

"I never did," I was forced to ad- 
mit, after a moment's thought. 

"Have not all your divisions been 
caused by doctrines your church has 
attempted to define, and not by doc- 
trines touching which you have 
granted liberty of opinion?" 

"So far as I am able now to recall, 
that is true," I answered. 

"What is the best revival meeting 
you have ever known in this town?" 

"Beyond doubt," I replied, "the 

44 



SECOND EVENING 

meetings a year ago last winter were 
the best I have ever known here; in 
fact, they were the best I have ever 
taken part in." 

"What was the agreement for those 
meetings?" 

"I do not understand you," I re- 
plied. 

"As to the relation of all the 
churches in the town," he said. 

"All the churches united in the ef- 
fort," I answered. 

"Did not you ministers and pastors 
have an agreement that none of the 
theological statements that are dis- 
tinctive of your individual churches 
should be preached during the meet- 
ings?" 

"Well, I guess that was about the 
understanding," I admitted, a little 
reluctantly. 

45 



EVENINGS WITH UNCLE 'BIJAH 

"Did you keep that agreement?" 

"I think we did/' I replied. 

"Was it a good agreement?" per- 
sisted my questioner. 

"I think it was," I answered. 

"Do you believe the conversions 
and other effects of the meeting were 
genuine?" 

"I felt, and have ever since felt, 
deeply impressed to that effect," I 
answered. 

"Were there any troubles, disturb- 
ances, or divisions during that meet- 
ing?" 

"None that I know of." 

"Why was that?" 

"May I not ask you that question, 
Uncle 'Bijah?" 

"You would like to know how it 
looks to an outsider, eh?" 

"I would," I replied. 

46 



SECOND EVENING 

"Well, I have fed cattle a good deal 
in my time, and in about every con- 
ceivable way, too. I have fattened 
them for the market, and I have 
starved them through when feed was 
scarce. I have noticed that when cat- 
tle are fed a good balanced ration of 
pure wholesome feed, and given all 
they want, they become fat and sleek 
and healthy, and after they are ac- 
quainted they seldom ever use their 
horns except in play; but when they 
are fed on musty straw, or run on a 
stubble field, they get thin and lean 
and rough and out of condition; and 
the leaner and rougher they get and 
the more their systems get out of con- 
dition, the wickeder they get with 
their horns." 

Ding, went the clock. I glanced up 

47 



EVENINGS WITH UNCLE 'BIJAH 

and saw that the hands pointed to 
half-past nine. 

"May I call to-morrow evening, 
Uncle 'Bijah?" I asked. 

"If you will be so kind," he replied 
with delightful grace. 



48 



THIRD EVENING 



f$T'VE been thinking a good deal 
A about your cattle illustration 
since last evening/' I said, as I seated 
myself before the fire. "In fact, I've 
been unable to get away from it all 
day to-day. We do feed our flocks too 
much straw and too little wholesome 
fattening food ; and I believe the more 
straw and the less fattening food we 
feed them the more they horn." 

"I have another observation to 
make," said my companion, "though I 
fear you may not fully agree with me. 
You remember last evening you ad- 
mitted that you ministers had an 
agreement (which you kept) not to 
preach the doctrines that were pecu- 

49 



EVENINGS WITH UNCLE 'BIJAH 

liar to your own churches — the doc- 
trines that divided the churches, but 
to preach the things believed by all 
Christians. Am I correct ?" 

"I think you are about right in 
that/' I replied with an inward flinch, 
for I could not fail to foresee the log- 
ical conclusion, nor did I see any way 
of evading it. 

"Would it be an unfair inference 
that the doctrines that divide Chris- 
tians are largely theological straw, 
and the things held in common by all 
Christians are the balanced ration, 
the fattening food?" He did not 
wait for an answer to his question 
(for which I was truly thankful) , but 
went right on. "In about every com- 
munity, and in almost every church, 
there are a few, sometimes preachers, 
sometimes deacons, sometimes just 

50 



THIRD EVENING 

ordinary members, generally men, 
though occasionally women are found 
among them, who seem to live on 
straw alone. They do not appear to 
have much appetite for anything else. 
They grow horns. They are always 
spiritually lean. They're the hook- 
ers. The more hookers there are the 
more buildings you have to have to 
shelter your herds. How many church 
houses are there in this town, Mr. 
Grote?" 

"About twenty, I think," I replied. 

"Do you prefer a full house at your 
services or a small audience?" 

"I prefer a full house." 

"Which is the easier to preach to?" 

"A full house." 

"Which is the more encouraging to 
those present?" 

"No doubt a full house." 

51 



EVENINGS WITH UNCLE 'BIJAH 

"What is the average seating ca- 
pacity of the houses of this town?" 

"Probably three or four hundred," 
F replied, after a little consideration. 

"What is the average attendance?" 

"I do not know," I answered, "but 
think it may be about one hundred 
fifty." 

"You're too high," returned my 
companion. That's about your own; 
but the churches of the entire town 
will not average that. I attend about 
all of them. I do not think they will 
average more than one hundred, if 
that. Had it ever occurred to you that 
here is a waste — I might say an enor- 
mous waste — of funds, and also of 
other things of much greater impor- 
tance?" 

"Yes ; I have thought a good deal of 
that," I replied, with some feeling. 

52 



THIRD EVENING 

"And has it occurred to you that it 
is an imposition on the business men 
and other citizens of a community to 
ask them to erect other houses of 
worship when already there are more 
than double the accommodations that 
are really used or needed, erected 
largely at their expense?" 

"Though I had not thought of it be- 
fore in that way," I replied, "I con- 
fess it seems to me you are right." 

"I was in the cattle business in the 
eighties," continued my old friend, 
"It was the transition period, by 
which I mean the times when we were 
changing from the old time Texas 
rangers' to the better breeds. Well, 
sir, half a dozen of those old long- 
horned Texans could occupy a whole 
barn, and then complain for want of 
room. I had shelter enough for all 

53 



EVENINGS WITH UNCLE 'BIJAH 

my cattle, but many a time I went out 
in the midst of a blizzard and found 
a dozen or fifteen old long-legged, 
lean, long-horned Texas steers backed 
up under the shed, guarding every en- 
trance; and out in the corral, taking 
the storm, were my Shorthorns and 
Heref ords and Angus ; and whenever 
an animal of the better breeds tried 
to get under the shelter, one of those 
old lean self -constituted 'guardians of 
the door' lunged out at him, and drove 
him away, and then backed up under 
the shelter again." 

"I see the application," I said, 
laughing, "but what's the remedy?" 

"Dehorning." 

The manner in which he spoke the 
word, the expression of his face, and 
his unexpected reply provoked me to 
laughter. 

54 



THIRD EVENING 

"1 beg your pardon," I said, as soon 
as I could control my voice, "but I do 
not mean the Texas steers. I mean 
the church members. What is the 
remedy with them?" 

"Dehorning," he repeated, in the 
same confident, final tone. And then 
after a moment's pause, he continued : 
"Let me tell you a little experience I 
once had. It was probably in the 
nineties. I was riding out in the 
country past a neighbor's, when the 
man hailed me, and asked it I would 
buy a cow, saying his son was going 
away, and wanted to sell his cow. I 
told him I would buy her if she was 
priced so I thought I could make 
something on her. He took me to the 
pasture, and showed me a pretty hard 
looking old cow, but priced her so low 
that I bought her, and gave him my 

55 



EVENINGS WITH UNCLE 'BIJAH 

check in payment, stipulating that he 
should deliver her. The following day 
he drove up with the old cow tied be- 
hind his wagon. She looked harder 
than ever, and I realized that I had 
paid too much for her, but did not tell 
him so." 

" 'Where do you want her?' he 
asked. 

" 'We'll put her in the lot there 
with the calves for the present/ I an- 
swered. There was a rack filled with 
bright green alfalfa hay (absolutely 
the finest feed in the world for cows) . 
She looked empty and hungry and 
lean and weak, and I thought she 
would certainly enjoy a feast like 
that. Wouldn't you have thought 
so?" 

"It certainly would seem so," I re- 
plied. 

56 



THIRD EVENING 

"That's the way it seemed to me, 
but it looked different to that old cow. 
She just lowered her head and lit 
into that bunch of calves with an en- 
ergy you never would have dreamed 
she could possess. She started down 
one side of the rack, and horned every 
calf away; and then whipped round 
the end of the rack, and came back 
on the other side, clearing that. One 
calf had his head down in the man- 
ger, and did not see her in time, and 
she tossed him into the manger on his 
back. Had there been no one to help 
him out he probably would have died 
there." He paused a moment, eyeing 
me steadily, then asked : "If you were 
guessing, what would you guess I 
did?" 

"Well," I replied, smiling, "I should 

57 



EVENINGS WITH UNCLE 'BIJAH 

guess you helped the calf out of the 
manger." 

"You guessed right," he replied, 
smiling in return ; "that was the first 
thing I did ; and then I yelled at the 
top of my voice : 

"'John!' and the man that was 
working for me came running out of 
the barn. 

" 'Yessir/ he answered, stopping at 
the barn door. 

" 'Come here, and bring the lasso 
and dehorning saw/ I called. 

"I kept the old horner away from 
the rack and the calves until he ar- 
rived. 

" 'Catch her,' I said. 

"He tossed the rope, and, being a 
good roper, caught her the first 
throw. 

58 



THIRD EVENING 

" 'Draw her up to that post/ I com- 
manded. 

" 'Wat ye goin' t' do?' he asked. 

" 'Dehorn her.' 

" 'Don't ye think we'd better put 
'er in the schute?' he asked. 

" 'Schute nothing,' I said, 'draw her 
up to that post.' 

" 'I b'lieve we'd save time to take 
'er roun' to the dehornin' schute,' he 
ventured. 

" 'I'm not trying to save time ; draw 
her up to that post,' I answered with 
more emphasis than I ought. He did ; 
and I sawed her horns off. I never 
enjoyed dehorning a creature better 
in my life than I did that old cow. It 
was a good thing for her. After that 
she could see alfalfa hay, and it 
seemed to taste better to her. And it 

59 



EVENINGS WITH UNCLE 'BIJAH 

was a whole lot better for the calves. 
Do you catch my idea ?" 

"I think I do," I said, laughing. 

"Is it not true that there are a few 
in almost every church that seem to 
live largely on dogma, that are always 
insisting upon preaching and teach- 
ing those doctrines that most Chris- 
tians do not accept and that are gen- 
erally offensive to them, thus stirring 
up and keeping up sectarian strife, 
doctrines that would prevent such a 
meeting as we had two years ago and 
kill most any other ; and is it not true 
that as a rule such persons are relig- 
iously lean and bony and skinny — 
largely horns ?" 

"I'm afraid there's a good deal of 
truth in what you are saying," I re- 
plied, now too much absorbed to be 
amused ; "yet many of those doctrines 

60 



THIRD EVENING 

are true, and should not be cast ruth- 
lessly aside." 

"I am not questioning their truth, 
but their relative importance. Are 
they essential to a Christian life?" 

"Which?" I asked. 

"The ones that divide Christians," 
he replied. 

I realized that I was cornered, and 
there was no way of escape. If I an- 
swered in the affirmative he would re- 
mind me of my admission that there 
were Christians on either side of 
every controverted doctrine; if I an- 
swered in the negative, then their 
relative unimportance was conceded. 
I was resolved to answer truthfully 
regardless of consequences, and I re- 
plied : 

"I think not. But," I added, "even 
conceding that, what would you do 

61 



EVENINGS WITH UNCLE 'BIJAH 

with them, and what would you do 
with the Christians that differ so 
widely on those questions?" 

"Do you see a face on the log 
there?" he asked, pointing toward the 
great burning backlog. 

"No," I replied, after looking close- 
ly at the spot toward which he was 
pointing. 

"I do," he replied. "Do you doubt 
my word?" 

"Not in the least," I answered. 

"Nor do I doubt yours when you 
say you do not see the same image. I 
have fallen into a habit," he con- 
tinued, still looking into the fire, his 
fine honest face lighted up with its 
glow, "which seems to grow with the 
years, of passing many restive, medi- 
tative moments, even hours, especial- 
ly when alone, tracing images on the 

62 



THIRD EVENING 

burning logs." He sat silent for a 
moment ; then his face lighted with a 
smile, and he added : "I remember one 
incident that may illustrate the point 
we were discussing. It was many 
years ago. I was a child of six or 
seven. Grandmother was raising a 
little orphan boy, a cousin of mine, 
two years younger than I. He and I 
used to pass many long winter even- 
ings sitting side by side picking out 
images in the great old fire-place in 
grandmother's home. One evening I 
discovered a very distinct image, and 
what seemed to me a very remarkable 
one, and pointing to it, said : 

" 'Mart, looky there/ 

" 'What is it?' he asked, looking in 
the direction I was pointing. 

" 'A lion,' I exclaimed. 

63 



EVENINGS WITH UNCLE 'BIJAH 



a ir 



'That ain't no lion — that's a 
house,' he said. 

" 'It's a lion,' I shouted. 

" 'I don't see no lion,' he replied, 
with equal emphasis. 

"I got down so close I nearly 
burned my finger : 

" 'There's his head, and there's his 
tail,' I said : 'that's a lion.' 

" 'That ain't no lion— that's a 
house,' he repeated. 

"I hit him with my elbow. I would 
have thrashed him if grandmother 
had not spoken just then. The idea 
of his calling a lion a house! I 
would have pounded him until he said 
it was a lion whether he believed it or 
not. Was not that the spirit of sec- 
tarianism? After all, what mattered 
it if his childish fancy traced the out- 
lines of a house, and mine the outlines 

64 



THIRD EVENING 

of a lion ? Was that a matter of great 
importance ? What was the real, vital 
question ? It was this : Were we not 
both warmed by the same glowing 
fire? Did we not look into each oth- 
er's face by the same God-given 
light? And so I think of the doctrines 
that Christians permit to divide them 
— they may be interesting and even 
instructive ; but the real vital warnfEIi 
of God's love, the light of the gospel 
of His salvation are found, not in 
them, but in the things that are com- 
mon to all ChristioMS." 

The clock struck half-past nine. I 
had no opportunity therefore to re- 
ply, for which I was truly thankful, 
for I did not wish to mar the beauti- 
ful picture he had painted upon the 
canvas of my memory. I therefore 

65 



EVENINGS WITH UNCLE 'BIJAH 

rose, and, bowing, said, "Good-night/' 
and went quietly out into the crisp, 
winter night. 



66 



FOURTH EVENING 



««¥TNCLE 'BIJAH," I said, as I 
*J seated myself the following 
evening before the fire, and felt with 
pleasure its warming rays, for it was 
snowing outside, and the temperature 
had fallen considerably, "I have a 
question that has been on my mind 
since we parted last evening, and that 
I should like to have you answer." 

Uncle 'Bijah looked at me with the 
quiet, modest, yet fearless expression 
of the practical business man that he 
was, but said nothing. 

"I have been deeply interested in 
these evening talks," I said, "and they 
have furnished me food for much 
thought and meditation; and I con- 

67 



EVENINGS WITH UNCLE 'BIJAH 

fess that to much that you have said 
I am strongly inclined to agree. But 
it seems to me that your position is 
largely iconoclastic. Is it not?" 

"I think your criticism is warrant- 
ed, for no doubt that is true," he re- 
plied. 

''Would it not be very unwise to 
tear down a building because it pos- 
sessed faults of architecture or struc- 
ture, even very serious faults, unless 
one were able to erect in its place a 
better one?" 

"True — that is very true," said my 
companion, thoughtfully. "But every 
error has its opposing truth. In ev- 
ery reformation three things seem to 
be necessary: first, to detect the er- 
ror; second, to know its opposing 
truth ; and third, to discover and ap- 
ply an efficient means of substitution. 

68 



FOURTH EVENING 

Now, in the matter we are discussing 
the error to which I object is the 
using of theological standards that 
are not tests of Christianity as tests 
for admission to the churches ; its op- 
posing truth, as I see it, is this : the 
final condition of acceptance with God 
should be the final condition of accept- 
ance with the church; the means of 
substitution seems to me very simple, 
and has already been demonstrated." 

"I am not sure that I understand 
you/' I said. 

My companion rose, and going to 
a book shelf took from it a strong 
leather bound Bible, showing marks 
of much careful use, and reseating 
himself took from it a sheet of paper, 
saying as he did so : 

"Here are three propositions that 
I wrote a good many years ago, and 

69 



EVENINGS WITH UNCLE 'BIJAH 

to which I have given a good deal of 
thought, and that I believe to be true. 
"1. There is authority in the Bible 
for but one church. 

"2. That church should be so or- 
ganized and governed as to offer a 
home to every child of God; or, in 
other words, should be composed of 
all the Christians in the community 
in which it is. 

"3. No church that knowingly, in- 
tentionally, wilfully shuts out a sin- 
gle child of God has a Scriptural 
right to exist." 

"Please let me see that," I said, and 
he handed me the slip of paper. 

"It is the first time I have ever 
shown them to any one," he said, 
after I had studied them for a few 
minutes, "and I should like to know 
what you think of them." 

70 



FOURTH EVENING 

"Well/' I said, "I think they are 
worthy of consideration." 

"How about the first ?" he asked. 

u O," I replied, "that's true. Of 
course, there is authority in the Bible 
for but one church." 

"How about the second?" 

"Well," I answered, examining it 
carefully for a flaw, and finding none, 
"that's true, too; for of course if 
there were but one church it would 
necessarily have to offer a home to 
all Christians." 

"How about the third?" persisted 
my questioner. 

I read them all over again slowly 
and carefully. 

"The third sounds a little harsh, 
Uncle 'Bijah," I said, "but I see no 

71 



EVENINGS WITH UNCLE 'BIJAH 

way to separate it from the other 
two. It seems to be a logical 
sequence." 

"That's the way they looked to me," 
said my companion, with a satisfied 
smile. "It's a good deal like a schute 
— when you start a steer in at one 
end there's no turning round or 
jumping over the side— he's got to go 
straight through. Isn't that right?" 

"I found it so," I said, laughing. 

"Do you think if Christ were on 
earth, and in charge of a church, He 
would shut out a single Christian?" 

"I admit that you are right," I 
said; "but you say this has already 
been demonstrated." 

"Hasn't it?" 

"In what way?" I asked. 

"In a number of ways and a num- 

72 



FOURTH EVENING 

ber of instances," he replied. "For 
instance, our own meetings here two 
years ago. Have we ever had equal 
results from separate efforts by the 
churches of this community ? In fact, 
was not more accomplished in a few 
days than has been accomplished in 
separate efforts in years?" 

"I agree with you there," I an- 
swered. 

"Then look at the great evangel- 
ists," continued my friend, "Moody, 
Gipsy Smith, Billy Sunday, and all 
the others. Do they not require the 
churches of the community in which 
they are to conduct meetings to get 
together, to forget for the time their 
divisions ; and do they not all refrain 
from preaching those things that 
cause divisions among Christians?" 

73 



EVENINGS WITH UNCLE 'BIJAH 

"You are no doubt right in all 
that," I said. 

"Then is not the Christian Endeav- 
or Society founded upon the same ba- 
sis? Is not the only requirement for 
membership simply Christian char- 
acter? And does not its wonderful 
growth testify strongly to the correct- 
ness of its position?" 

"Would you have the church adopt 
the same basis of admission?" I 
asked. 

"I would gladly if I could," replied 
my companion. "I attended the State 
Christian Endeavor Convention two 
years ago. There were over five thou- 
sand young people in attendance, rep- 
resenting all the leading Protestant 
churches of the State — Methodist, 
Presbyterian, Disciple, Baptist, Quak- 
er, and all the others — in the most 

74 



FOURTH EVENING 

beautiful fellowship I ever witnessed, 
sitting side by side, and laboring hand 
in hand. Mr. Grote, as I looked into 
the faces of that great gathering of 
young Christians, and listened to 
their deliberations, it seemed to me I 
read there the fate of sectarianism/' 

"When do you think such a condi- 
tion will prevail ?" I asked. 

"May be with the coming of the 
next generation," he replied. 

"Why not with this?" I asked, 

"Why does it not prevail now ?" he 
asked in return. 

I thought for a moment, and then 
replied : 

"I believe, Uncle 'Bijah, it is for 
want of love among the professed fol- 
lowers of Christ." 

"No doubt that is a great hin- 

75 



EVENINGS WITH UNCLE 'BIJAH 

drance," he replied; "but not the 
greatest.' ' 

"Not the greatest !" I repeated in- 
credulously. "Pray, then, what is the 
greatest ?" 

"Blindness," he replied, with such 
positiveness, there seemed no room 
for doubt. 

"Blindness?" I again repeated. 

"Yes, blindness," he replied. "I 
suppose you would call it spiritual 
blindness. Do you remember the text 
in the first chapter of the first epistle 
of John that reads : 'If we walk in the 
light, as he is in the light, we have 
fellowship one with another?' " 

"I remember it quite well; it's a 
familiar and rather a favorite text 
with me, Uncle 'Bijah," I said, "but 
I'm inclined to think you see more in 

76 



FOURTH EVENING 

it than I have been able to see. Will 
you tell me what it means to you ?" 

"You notice the tense of the verb is 
present," he said, with an expression 
that indicated that he attached much 
importance to that item. 

"Yes," I said. 

"It doesn't say ought, or may, or 
will; but it says, 'We have fellowship 
one with another.' " 

"Yes," I repeated again; but I 
knew from his face that mine was a 
disappointment to him, and also that 
he saw (or thought he saw) in the 
text something that I did not see. 

"I knew a man once who killed his 
boy while they were fighting Indians 
in the dark. That wasn't a lack of 
love, but a lack of light," he said, re- 
sorting to his habit of making clear 
his point by illustration. 

77 



EVENINGS WITH UNCLE 'BIJAH 

"Yes," I said, leaning forward in 
my eagerness to catch his point, but 
failing to see the application, "but 
how does that apply to the churches 
or to Christians?" 

"Well, here is the way it seems to 
me," he said reflectively : "the Quaker 
that can't see the Christian life in his 
Baptist neighbor, or the Baptist that 
can't see the Christian life in his 
Methodist or Presbyterian neighbor, 
or the Methodist or Presbyterian that 
can't see the Christian life in his 
Quaker neighbor, or the Disciple that 
can't see the Christian life in any of 
them, must be walking in darkness. 
Am I right?" he asked with startling 
directness. 

"I think your statement is true," I 
replied, "but your picture is certainly 
overdrawn, for surely as a rule Chris- 

78 



FOURTH EVENING 

tians of all denominations see and 
recognize the Christian life in mem- 
bers of other churches than their 
own." 

"That seems to me the more dan- 
gerous horn of the dilemma/' he said, 
with a severity in his voice that was 
not usual. 

"I confess I do not get your point," 
I said. 

"The dilemma," he replied, revert- 
ing to his usual kindly manner, "pre- 
sents itself to me like this: either 
Christians do see and recognize the 
Christian life in members of other 
churches, or they do not. If they do 
not, then we are agreed that the text 
teaches that they are walking in dark- 
ness ; if they do, then why should they 
refuse fellowship and membership to 
those in whom they recognize the 

79 



EVENINGS WITH UNCLE 'BIJAH 

Christian life? It seems to me 
(though I confess that my vision may 
be at fault, but it seems to me), that 
this is the more dangerous horn of 
the dilemma — just as to err in dark- 
ness would be less culpable than to 
err knowingly." 

He paused for my response, I knew. 
Of course I could have entered upon 
a discussion of the distinctions be- 
tween fellowship and membership, 
and the theological standards of the 
churches and their value and uses, 
but I did not feel an inclination to do 
so. 

"Mr. Grote," he said, leaning to- 
ward me earnestly, "I believe that as 
a rule touching this particular point, 
sinful men see where Christians are 
blind. Infidels, even saloon-keepers, 
gamblers and thieves, seldom err in 

80 



FOURTH EVENING 

their recognition of Christian men 
and women. I recall a little story that 
I once heard or read/' he said, after 
a moment's reflection, "that, it occurs 
to me, somewhat illustrates my point, 
The story, as nearly as I can recall it, 
ran about as follows : 

"Years ago, before checks were in 
common use, and men had to carry 
considerable money with them when 
traveling, a certain infidel banker and 
his son were traveling on horseback 
across the State of Illinois. They lost 
their way, and night overtook them in 
the woods. After they had wandered 
about for some time they came to a 
little log house, and secured permis- 
sion to remain all night. After sup- 
per they were assigned to one of the 
two rooms of the house to sleep. The 
banker called his son to him, and in a 

81 



EVENINGS WITH UNCLE 'BIJAH 

whispered tone advised him that he 
was suspicious of the surroundings, 
and thought best for them to keep 
watch, for they had with them con- 
siderable money. 

" 'You watch until midnight/ he 
said to his son, 'and then wake me and 
I will watch the remainder of the 
night.' So he undressed, and went to 
bed. 

" 'Now/ he said, addressing his 
son, 'get the revolver out of the sad- 
dle-bags, put out the light, and go and 
watch them for a little while through 
that hole in the partition wall/ 

"The young man obeyed, and after 
watching for awhile slipped back to 
the bed, and whispered : 

" 'They've gathered round the ta- 
ble, and are talking, but I cannot hear 
what they say.' 

82 



FOURTH EVENING 

" 'Go back and watch again/ said 
the father. 

"Again the young man went back 
and watched, and after awhile re- 
turned to the bed, and reported : 

" 'The man has taken down a large 
book, and is reading/ 

" 'Go back, and watch again/ said 
the banker. 

"The young man obeyed again, and 
presently returned to the bedside, and 
said: 

" 'They're kneeling, and the man is 
praying/ 

"'We're safe/ said the banker; 
'you may undress, and come to bed/ 

"That was an infidel," said my com- 
panion, after a moment's pause. "If 
he had been a Christian, would he 
have said : 'Go back again, and see if 

83 



EVENINGS WITH UNCLE 'BIJAH 

you can learn what church they be- 
long to?' " 

"Mr. Grote," he said, after another 
pause, during which he sat in the 
deepest thought, "that infidel saw 
enough there that night to know he 
was in a Christian home, and there- 
fore safe ; and so did I." 

"And so did I," I responded, scarce 
conscious that I was speaking. 

"I would rather have seen what 
that infidel banker saw there that 
night as evidence that I was in a 
Christian home than to have exam- 
ined the church rolls of that neighbor- 
hood/' continued my companion. 

The clock sounded half -past nine. 

"So would I," I returned, rising, 
and taking my hat. 

"Then why should the church re- 
quire more for admission?" said the 

84 



FOURTH EVENING 

old man, talking, it seemed to me, 
rather to himself than to me. 

"I shall give that question more 
thought, Uncle 'Bijah," I said. "Good- 
night." x\nd I went out into the 
storm with that question ringing in 
my ears. 



85 



FIFTH EVENING 



**T\0 you remember Peter's vision 

*J at Joppa, Mr. Grote?" asked 
my dear old friend, whom I was com- 
ing to love and value more and more 
with each association. 

"Quite distinctly, I think," I re- 
plied. 

"And do you remember what the 
'voice' said to him when he refused 
to eat?" 

" 'What God hath cleansed, call not 
thou common/ " I repeated. The pas- 
sage was easily recalled, for I had 
used it as a text not a month before. 

"When is a man cleansed?" 

"When he is converted." 

"I was present at your service yes- 

87 



EVENINGS WITH UNCLE 'BIJAH 

terday, when you received into your 
church several young people." 

"Yes, I saw you there." 

"Among them Lillian and Arthur 
Townsend." 

"Yes." 

"Did you notice that their father 
and mother were crying when they 
went forward, and shook hands with 
you?" 

"I recall that they were." 

"Do you know why?" 

"I supposed for joy." 

"Partly for joy, and partly sor- 
row." 

"Sorrow!" I repeated in astonish- 
ment. 

"Yes," answered my friend, "it was 
both joy and sorrow, I think. You 
may not know that they were mem- 
bers with my parents of the old 

88 



FIFTH EVENING 

Quaker Church of this town. The 
house was burned down years before 
your time here. The congregation 
was too weak to rebuild, and the 
church gradually died out. In fact, 
I know of no other members now liv- 
ing here. They are near neighbors 
and close friends of mine. Outside 
my own family I know no one more 
thoroughly than them. I never knew 
either of them to repeat a scandal, to 
circulate a report (either false or 
true) that would injure another, to 
be guilty of deception or misrepre- 
sentation, or in any other way to 
wrong their fellow men; nor have I 
ever known a person with stronger 
faith in the Bible or God's promises." 
"I know Brother and Sister Town- 
send quite well, ,, I replied. "I have 
been in their home, and have often 

89 



EVENINGS WITH UNCLE 'BIJAH 

met them in my church; and I have 
come to hold the same opinion of 
them. But pray tell me why you say 
they were weeping partly from sor- 
sow." 

'Two weeks ago yesterday," he an- 
swered, "they spent most of the after- 
noon visiting me here ; and during the 
visit told me of their children's inten- 
tion to unite with the church. I re- 
member quite distinctly one sentence 
from Mrs. Townsend that will prob- 
ably fully answer your question. Her 
eyes were filled with tears, as she 
said : '0, I'm glad the children will 
have a church home ; but it does seem 
so hard that conditions are such that 
they must go where their parents can- 
not go with them/ Mr. Grote," he 
said, turning to me abruptly, "sup- 
pose they had gone forward at your 

90 



FIFTH EVENING 

invitation, and when you asked the 
question, 'Do you believe the Holy 
Scriptures as set forth in the Articles 
of Religion of the Methodist Episco- 
pal Church T had answered 'No/ as in 
honesty they would have had to do; 
what would you have done?" 

He was looking into my face with 
an earnest, kindly searching gaze that 
seemed to pierce my very soul. What 
would I have done? Had I not put 
that very hypothetical case before 
myself more than once before ? What 
would I have done? What would I 
have done if the Christian parents of 
those young people had asked for a 
home in the church with their chil- 
dren because they had no church 
home of their own, and had answered 
"No" because they did not accept 
some of the teachings of the church? 

91 



EVENINGS WITH UNCLE 'BIJAII 

Though I had before asked myself the 
question, I had never answered it; 
nor was I ready to answer it now ; so 
I replied: 

"Uncle 'Bijah, I shall consider that 
question further ; but I want to thank 
you for calling my attention again to 
that text." 

"Suppose you had rejected them," 
persisted my questioner, "would not 
that have been a violation of the ad- 
monition to Peter, 'What God hath 
cleansed, call not that common or un- 
clean?' " 

"That matter shall be a subject of 
future thought and prayer with me, 
Uncle 'Bijah," I replied. 

"We will drop that subject," he 
said, evidently recognizing my will- 
ingness to do so. "I have a question 
I should like to ask you." 

92 



FIFTH EVENING 

"Certainly," I replied. 

"What do you consider the strong- 
est evidence of the correctness of a 
church creed or standard of faith?" 

"Its resemblance to the Bible," I 
replied, without hesitation or doubt. 

"That's exactly the answer I should 
have given," he said, his face lighting 
with pleasure. "The closer it resem- 
bles the Bible, the better it is?" 

"Exactly." 

"Something like a photograph?" 

"Very much so," I replied; and 
then catching the full significance of 
his illustration, I added: "your com- 
parison is admirable." 

He rose from his chair, and took 
from the wall, where it was hanging 
beside the fire-place, a life-size bust 
picture, and, setting it on the table 
between us where we could both view 
it, asked : 

93 



EVENINGS WITH UNCLE 'BIJAH 

"Do you know that picture?" 
"I've had it in my mind several 
times to ask you whose picture it is," 
I answered; "from resemblance I've 
guessed it's a picture of you when 
you were a young man. Am I right?" 
"It's a picture of my only brother, 
Mr. Grote," he replied, with a touch 
of feeling in his voice that I had nev- 
er heard before. "He was two years 
younger than I, and I think that sel- 
dom did two brothers love with a 
deeper affection than did we. The 
picture is a good one, and represents 
him as I last knew him, for he died 
less than a year after the picture 
from which this was made was taken. 
You do not know how highly I prize 
that picture," he continued, and I saw 
tears in his eyes, fixed tenderly on the 
picture. Then turning his face from 

94 



FIFTH EVENING 

the picture to me, he said in a hushed, 
earnest voice: "But for all that, were 
my brother living, and I had a chance 
to exchange that picture for one hour 
with him, how gladly would I make 
the exchange !" 

The old eyes filled, and, taking a 
handkerchief from his pocket, he 
dried the tears, and then in an apol- 
ogetic tone said : 

"Excuse me, I had only intended 
to illustrate. What I want to ask is : 
Is not the Bible better than any 
creed? In fact, like even the best 
photograph, is it not likely that the 
best creed ever written by men con- 
tains some error ? And is it not there- 
fore wrong to reject from church 
membership one who in honesty is 
compelled to say 'No' because he does 
not believe all the creed, when he 

95 



EVENINGS WITH UNCLE 'BIJAH 

could say 'Yes' to believing all the 
Bible? Is not that a violation of the 
meaning of the text? If Christ were 
in your place would He do it?" 

"Uncle 'Bijah," I said, "I know you 
have not asked those questions for me 
to answer, but for my consideration, 
and I assure you they shall have that. 
It is past the hour and I will bid you 
good-night," and I left him holding 
the picture with one hand, and wav- 
ing me good-night with the other, a 
gentle smile upon his venerable face, 
Ah ! little did I think it should be the 
last time I should see my dear old 
friend alive; and as I write to-day I 
recall that beautiful picture with a 
feeling of thanksgiving that it was 
mine to know him so closely and so 
well. 



9fi 






THE CLOUD AND THE CLEAR 
SKY 



IT was about ten o'clock the fol- 
lowing morning. I was sitting 
in my study trying to answer my 
friend's questions of the evening be- 
fore. I well knew the answer he 
would give to them, and I could find 
no fault with it; but it was difficult 
(in truth, the more I pondered the 
matter, the more it seemed impossi- 
ble) to reconcile that answer with my 
position as a minister and pastor. I 
was suddenly aroused from this rath- 
er troubled study by the ringing of 
the door-bell. Its quick repetition 
impressed me that the one at the door 

97 



EVENINGS WITH UNCLE 'BIJAH 

was excited, and I hastened to the 
door, and opened it. 

"0 Mister Grote, I think grandpa's 
dead ! Do come quick !" 

An excited little girl sobbed out the 
sad intelligence, and before I could 
ask a question, turned, and ran back 
down the walk. It was little Mar- 
guerite, Uncle 'Bijah's grandchild. I 
snatched my hat from the hook, and 
ran after the child ; but did not over- 
take her swift feet. When I reached 
the house I found two doctors there 
examining and working over the body 
of my friend. The body was lying on 
the sofa in the room where we had 
spent the past few delightful even- 
ings. I had been there scarcely a min- 
ute, I suppose, when the doctors ex- 
changed knowing looks, and the old 
doctor, turning to Mrs. Major, Uncle 

98 



CLOUD AND CLEAR SKY 

'Bijah's daughter, said solemnly and 
feelingly : 

"It's no use; he's gone." 

I asked Mr. Major if there was any- 
thing I could do, and he said there 
was nothing, but requested that I re- 
turn after noon. I promised to do so, 
and then trying to speak a word of 
comfort to the weeping daughter and 
the sobbing grandchildren, I returned 
to my home, my heart full and aching. 
When I told the sad news at home my 
wife and children and I all wept as 
if it had been a near relative that had 
passed away, so near and dear was 
the old man to all of us. 

When I returned in the afternoon 
Mrs. Major sat down beside me, and 
told me the brief story of his death, 

"Marguerite went to father's 
room," she said, "with some pecan 

99 



EVENINGS WITH UNCLE 'BIJAH 

kernels she had picked out for him, 
but returned with them in her hand, 
saying: 'Grandpa's asleep, with his 
head lying on the table.' He often 
took a nap during the day, but always 
lay down on the couch ; and, thinking 
he might not be resting easy, I slipped 
into his room, and found him lying 
with his head resting upon his arms, 
which were folded across the open 
Bible. He was in a perfectly natural 
position, and I had no thought but 
that he was asleep, and hesitated to 
wake him; but, thinking he would 
rest better on this couch, I touched 
him, and spoke to him. He did not 
stir. I shook him lightly, and called 
him again. Still he did not stir. I 
became alarmed, and, placing my 
hand under his forehead, I raised his 
head from the table, and saw— that 

100 



CLOUD AND CLEAR SKY 

he was dead." A sob shook her form, 
and she was silent for a moment, and 
then proceeded. "I ran to the tele- 
phone, and called my husband from 
the bank; and in a few minutes he 
was here, and a little later the doc- 
tors arrived. You know the rest," 
she said, with a sigh. 

"The Bible, Mrs. Major," I said, 
"do you know at what place it was 
open?" 

"I think it's just as he left it," she 
replied, with deep, tender interest. 
"Come; we'll see," and she led the 
way into his room. 

The Bible lay open upon his writ- 
ing-table. I stepped eagerly forward, 
I cannot express to you my feelings, 
for it was open at the first chapter of 
the first epistle of John. The sev- 
enth verse was enclosed in brackets, 

101 



EVENINGS WITH UNCLE 'BIJAH 

and each word was underscored with 
heavy lines : "If we walk in the light, 
as he is in the light, we have fellow- 
ship one with another, and the blood 
of Jesus Christ cleanseth us from all 
sin." 



I do not remember ever having 
seen before or since so large a funeral 
congregation as assembled to pay re- 
spect to the memory of Uncle 'Bijah. 
Every foot of space in our large 
building was occupied, and it seemed 
to me there were fully half as many 
outside. 

What text could I choose save the 
one Uncle 'Bijah's eyes had last rest- 
ed upon? Nor had I considered any 
other from the time I was asked to 
preach the funeral discourse. 

I told briefly the story of the inci- 

102 



CLOUD AND CLEAR SKY 

dents set forth in this little volume; 
and, concluding, I repeated those 
questions he had asked me only two 
days before : 

"Is not the Bible better than any 
creed written by men ? Like the best 
photograph, is it not likely that even 
the best creed contains some error? 
Is it not wrong to reject from mem- 
bership one who in honesty is com- 
pelled to say 'No' because he does not 
believe all the creed, when he could 
say 'Yes' to believing all the Bible? 
Would not that constitute a violation 
of the command of the 'Voice' to 
Peter in his vision at Joppa? If 
Christ were in your place, would He 
do it?" 

I paused. There was profound sil- 
ence, and attention that seemed in- 
tense. Up to that moment I had nev- 

103 



EVENINGS WITH UNCLE 'BIJAH 

er fully answered those questions for 
myself. My eyes rested for a moment 
upon the casket covered with beauti- 
ful wreaths, and the great heaps of 
roses and wild flowers piled on either 
side by loving, tender hands. Sudden- 
ly the answer seemed to come to me 
with a force that seized me, and car- 
ried me with it, and I continued: 

"There can be but one final answer 
to those questions : — Were Jesus here 
as pastor of any church in this town, 
surely He would not reject such as he 
whose body lies in the casket there, — 
nor from this day will I. I shall no 
more ask the question, 'Do you believe 
the Holy Scriptures as taught by this 
church V but 'Do you believe the Holy 
Scriptures as taught by Jesus of 
Nazareth T" 

I was almost startled by the re- 

104 






CLOUD AND CLEAR SKY 

sponse from the great audience — fer- 
vent "amens" from all over the house. 

After the casket had been lowered 
into the grave, and the services 
closed, as I turned to leave the 
ground, Mr. Andrews, the cashier of 
the National Bank, and superintend- 
ent of our Sunday-school, grasped me 
by the hand, and, his face indicating 
his deep earnestness, said: 

"God bless you, Brother Grote ; you 
expressed to-day what I have felt for 
years, but feared I was wrong, as I 
had never heard it announced from 
the pulpit. I assure you of my heart- 
iest support in your position, and I 
believe it will meet the approval of 
our entire brotherhood." 

And so it did — but that is a story 
of itself; and the story I had started 
to tell is ended. 

105 



EVENINGS WITH UNCLE 'BIJAH 

Yonder in the cemetery is a beauti- 
ful monument, erected by Uncle 
'Bijah's children and grandchildren, 
with the following inscription : 

ABIJAH JOHNSON DREW 

Born Jan. 18, 1827 

Died Feb. 9, 1897 

One who loved God and his fellow men 

And lived the principle of 

CHRISTIAN FELLOWSHIP 

"If we walk in the light, as he is in the 
light, we have fellowship one with another, 
and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son 
eleanseth us from all sin." — 1 John 1 : 7. 



106 



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